cheap wedding inspiration

Guest Post: Chris Austin, on Making the Most of being a Model for a Day

It’s your wedding day.  You are as excited as ever, yet the nerves overwhelm you.  Will the cake get there on time?  Am I forgetting anything?  I hope I don’t trip when I walk down the aisle.   One of your biggest concerns might even be your photographs.  You want your wedding to look like it came out of a magazine, yet you know you’re not professional models.  As wedding photographers, our ultimate goal is to make you feel gorgeous, to look gorgeous, and we want to bring out that inner beauty we know has always been inside, just waiting patiently for the right moment to appear.  While we cannot tell you exactly what to do to make your photos resemble those on the pages of Modern Bride or Grace Ormonde, we can offer some suggestions to help you create some timeless images that will capture the full range of emotions from such a special occasion.

I have been shooting weddings now for five years.  My wife joined me two years ago, and it is amazing what a woman’s perspective brings to the table.  I have learned so much from her in such a short time about what makes a woman feel beautiful, and how to set up our shots in order to allow that beauty to show through.  On your wedding day, you have so much to think about and worry about, the last thing you should have to deal with is whether or not your photographer is making you look pretty!

The first thing you really should pay attention to, when choosing a photographer, is of course their images and portfolio.  Really look at it closely.  Does that photographer allow the focus of the image to fall on the bride and groom, or do they jumble the image up with distracting backgrounds and props?  Do the brides look natural?  Do their smiles look real, or fake?  Can you envision yourself doing what those brides are doing?  Do you see yourself in the “prom pose”, one hand on the groom’s chest, both looking towards the camera and smiling on cue?  Or do you see yourself laughing, being silly, striking a “fierce” pose and really having fun with your day?

Second, once you have selected your photographer, TRUST them!  You chose them for a reason; hopefully they are a true professional who has demonstrated an innate ability to make beautiful images no matter who the client is.  Allow them to work their magic with you.  If they ask you to do something you may not initially think will work, trust them to know that it actually will.  If you want, ask to see the images on their camera screens after a set of photos, and you will be reassured that you’re going to look amazing.  But we all knew that already, right ladies?

Another great way to inspire yourself is to pick up some of those fashion magazines you pass by on your way to the checkout stand.  Look through the bridal magazines, or maybe a Vogue, and look at those shots.  Often they can be recreated, or emulated, without all the fancy equipment you know those photographers have access to.  Don’t be afraid to speak up and offer your ideas to your photographer.  As hard as it is to believe, we sometimes run out of new ideas, and from personal experience, I love a bride who knows what she wants but also allows me to work my magic.

Even though a wedding is often a very traditional affair, you cannot be afraid to try new things with your pictures.  This is YOUR day, not your parents’ or family’s day.  These photos will be for you to cherish for many years, so have fun with it.  Often your family portraits will need to be fairly standard, but when it comes to the bridal party and the bride and groom pictures, do something different.  We always highly recommend doing a “first look”, as it allows for much more flexibility for photos.  With that extra time, you and your bridal party can take photos at a nearby location that might provide more interesting backdrops than the church or park where your ceremony will be held.  We have never had a bride regret doing a first look, but we have had a few through the years that wished they had not waited until after the ceremony before starting any pictures.

Find a location for your photos that you will be comfortable in.  If you love fashion, the urban feel of a city, and lots of action, consider an area near your local downtown where you have some alleys, street corners, and public areas.  If you love nature and solitude, find a nearby nature preserve or farm that might offer some amazing spots for pictures.  Work with your photographer, they probably know the area very well, and will know exactly what locations to suggest based on your personality.  When you’re in your element, your images will reflect that.

Most importantly of all, enjoy your day.  Enjoy being with your new husband or wife.  Enjoy being surrounded by friends and family, people who came from far away to celebrate with you.  Enjoy the opportunity to create lasting memories that you will never have a chance to do again.  Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event.  Do not hold back on the photography.  Go for it all.  Get every photo you have ever wanted.  Get to every location possible.  Try every pose you have ripped out of a magazine.  Laugh as much as possible with your best girlfriends.  Embrace your love with your soul mate, and let the camera see that passion.  Leave your insecurities, your inhibitions, your doubts, and your worries behind.  Make the most of those precious moments you have with your photographer.

There’s never a secret formula for stunning images.  But you have to remember, that no matter what, when you wake up that morning, you are the most beautiful woman, or the most handsome man, in the world.  If for just one day, you will be that fashion model you used to pass by at the checkout stand.  When you make the most of that opportunity, the memories you will create will always be there to remind you of just how beautiful you really are.

For more inspiration, please visit us at whitehautephotography.com and catch up on our latest work at whitehauteblog.com.  We would love to offer our advice to any bride who is preparing for her wedding, on anything from location ideas to wardrobe choices.  We look forward to hearing from you!